Adjustable stirrup for physician&#39;s examining table



Nov. 28, 1967 J. M. LEINASSAR 3,355,163

ADJUSTABLE STIRRUP FOR PHYSICIAN'S EXAMINING TABLE Filed Aug. 30, 1965 Fig.2

Jorma M. Leinassar 1N VENTOR.

Patented Nov. 28,- 1967 3,355,163 ADJUSTABLE STIRRUP FOR PHYSICIANS EXAMINING TABLE Jorma M. Leiuassar, 21 Skyline Place, Astoria, Oreg. 97103 Filed Aug. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 483,412 11 Claims. (Cl. 269-328) The present invention relates to a stirrup such as is functionally designed and structurally adapted to be used on and in association with the foot end of a physicians examining table and has to do, more particularly, with a uniquely constructed adjustable stirrup and, in addition, improved means for mounting the stirrup on the end of the examining table.

More specifically, the present inventive concept pertains to a physicians examining table, of whatever type may be desired, but which is provided at the foot end thereof, as usual, with a fixedly mounted adapter bracket, that is, a type of bracket which lends itself to the use of the present invention in conjunction therewith. While the bracket may vary it has been found expedient and practical to employ a simple flanged socket, to fasten said socket on the end wall of the table and provide it with a setscrew which is so arranged that it will accommodate an upright, more particularly, a simple rod or equivalent linearly straight member having a milled lower end which is fitted adjustably in the socket of the bracket and which has an upper end which is also milled or other wise constructed to cooperate with a novel coupling device or unit.

A further improvement resides, briefly stated, in the utilization of a stirrup cradling yoke. This yoke has a bight portion provide with a depending stud. The stud is so constructed and arranged that it is swivelly and detachably connectible with acoupling, that is, the aforementioned specially constructed coupling thus providing an ideal construction for the novelly constructed foot-steadying stirrup, the latter pivotally cradled between the arms of the yoke and embodying means which is capable of accommodatingly seating and supporting a foot of the patient occupying the table.

Aside from the combination aspect of the overall concept above briefly touched upon it will be evident, as hereinafter clarified, that the principal improvement has to do with an end-thrust-type foot-holding and steadying device characterized by a yoke having means thereon for swivelly and detachably mounting the yoke on the foot end of the examining table. This yoke lends itself to use as support means for a receptacle-like stirrup, that is, a stirrup construction having coplanar sole and heel plates, more explicitly plates which are marginally provided with a forwardly laterally projecting flange. This flange orients both plates and is U-shaped in edge elevation and is such in dimension and shape that it provides a foot localizing rim. In fact, the central or bight portion of the rim constitutes a saddle-like heel-rest and the upstanding wall provides side guards which minimize the likelihood of the supported and confined foot from becoming unintentionally displaced once it is seated in the stirrup. A further improvement resides in the median portions of the guard walls being hingedly suspended and tiltably cradled between the arms of the yokes. Then, too, novelty is predicated on the sole plate which spans and is fixed between the walls or flanges of the upper'half portion of the yoke, the heel plate also spanning the lower half-portion, that is between the walls or flanges of the yoke and being hingedly connected at its upper end to the lower edge of the sole plate in a manner that the heel plate constitutes a lid-like cover or closure for anoptionally usable opening which makes it feasible to employ the stirrup for aptly and comfortably supporting a foot with or without a shoe, and wherein the shoe may be provided with a low heel or a high heel, as the case may be.

In addition to the above it will be hereinafter evident that the novel stirrup is cradled in the yoke, that is, the yoke is suitably and detachahly mounted onthe tablesupported means and that the lid-like cover is provided with a hand-controlled latch so that the two plates can be locked in coplanar alignment when the foot (without the shoe) is saddled in the stirrup in keeping with the needs of the physician, the patient or both, as the case may be.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view showing a fragmentary portion of a physicians table with a bracket on the foot end, showing the improved adjustable stirrup, portions of the same being broken away and appearing in section, and observing the structure as it appears when viewed from right to left in FIG. 2;

FIGURE 2 is a view at right angles and primarily in elevation with portions of the latch and sheath broken away and appearing in section, with the aforementioned lid-like heel plate closed in full lines and open in dotted or phantom lines;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged section with parts in section and elevation taken on the plane of the section line 33 of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view taken on the plane of the vertical section line 4-4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a View on a smaller scale showing the manner in which the cover plate is swung toan open position when the latch is released and wherein the stirrup then well serves to accommodate a shoe having a high heel.

With reference now to FIG. 1, the aforementioned foot end of the physicians table is denoted by the numeral 6, and the couch portion at 8. The bracket is denoted by the numeral 16 and embodies a socket 12 with a setscrew 14 for securely clamping the attachable and detachable as well as adjustable support member. This support member preferably comprises a suitable rigid chromium plate cylindrical rod 16 having a milled portion 18 fitting into the socket, having a smooth median portion 20 and an upper ribbed or milled end portion 22 (see FIG. 3).

With reference now to the yoke this is of U-shaped form and is denoted at 24 and embodies an arcuate bight portion 26 and side arms 28, said bight portion being provided with a depending stud 30 having a blunt but tapered lower end terminal 32 (see FIG. 3) and a keeper groove 34 which serves in a manner to be described.

It seems advisable at this point to take up the description of the uniting or coupling means between the stud 30 and the upper end 22 of the staff or support rod 16. This coupling means is denoted, generally speaking, by the numeral 36 and it comprises a cylinder 38, the lefthand end of which (FIG. 3) is provided with a bore constituting a passage 40 for the lower headed or grooved end portions 32 and 34 of the stud 30. This end portion of the coupling is also provided with a companion bore 42 to accommodate the shank 44 of a spring loaded detent. This detent has a head 46- slidable in the hollow or chamber portion of the coupling and which is pressed into latching position by a coil spring 48. This same spring is novel in that it simultaneously exerts pressure against a rigid pin-like connector 50 which terminates in an eye 52 into which the end portion 22 of the rod 20 is frictionally anchored and held in place in the manner shown. The

inner enclosed end portion of this connector 50 is provided with a lateral small socket containing a coil spring 54 which is at right angles to the spring 48 and which acts on a latchable detent 56 which is adapted to snap into a keeper hole 58 provided therefor. With the latch 56 engaged in the keeper hole 58, it will be seen that the rod 20 is coplanar with and in spaced parallelism in relation to the yoke stud 30. However, by exerting pressure of the finger, for example, in the direction A and against the end of the coupling cylinder 36, the spring 48 yields and the detent 56 is cammed out of its keeper hole 58 thus making it possible to rotate the yoke so that it can be swung to a down and out-of-the-way position relative to the foot end of the physicians table (not shown).

This arrangement, which enables one to swing the yoke down to its out-of-the-way position or swing it up to assume the ready-to-use position as shown in the views of the drawing ties in, of course, with the adjustable stirrup. The stirrup is denoted by the numeral 63. It comprises a generally flat sole plate 62 and a companion auxiliary plate 64 which is here difierentiated as a heel plate. Normally the two plates are in line with each other and the edges abut as at 66 consequently providing a smooth end thrust plate for the users foot, particularly when the foot is bare or without a shoe. The fixed top plate 62 is substantially rectangular in front elevation. The movable plate 64 is substantially semi-ovate in plane or elevation. The two plates are component parts of the overall stirrup which includes the substantially U-shaped flange means, that is the two side flanges 68 and the curvate bottom or bight portion 70. It will be noted, too, that the righthand marginal edge portions of these flanges have outstanding or overhanging auxiliary flanges or lips 72 which serve as limit stops and which reside against the edges of the arms 28 of the yoke when the stirrup is in the generally usable position shown in FIG. 2, for example. It will be understood, however, that this receptacile-type can cardle, that is, rock back and forth thus making it substantially self-levelling when in use. It follows that the stirrup is cradled in the yoke and the yoke is detachable and swivelly mounted on the coupling means 36 carried by the support rod 16. The plate 62 spans the upper half-portion of the stirrup, that is between the side flanges 68. The lower plate can be swung to an open position as suggested in phantom lines in FIG. 2 and full lines in FIG. 5. This is accomplished when the user is wearing shoes and the purpose is to adapt the stirrup to shoes (womens shoes with high, medium or other heels) and in addition mens shoes with regular height heels. To achieve the ends desired the upper edge of the swingable plate 64 is provided with a block-like member 74 (see FIG. 4) which is bolted or otherwise secured in place as at 76 and which has its upper end portion 78 hingedly mounted on a mounting block 80 carried by the exterior side 82 of the fixed plate 62. This construction and arrangement serves to accommodate a projectible and retractible latch 84 which has a knob 86 at the upper end provided with a journal 88 and an eccentric or cam 96 operating in slot means provided therefor. By turning the knob the lower laterally directed end portion 92 of the latch is opened or closed. More specifically the latch terminates in a retaining member 94 which is releasably engageable with a shoulder or block-like keeper 6 on the bight portion 70. It follows, therefore, that the plate 64 is a lid-like cover which serves to provide the opening means 98 shown in FIG. 5. Accordingly, this latchequipped lid or plate can be normally latched in place to provide the coplanar plate or end thrust surfaces as shown at 62 and 64 in FIG. 1. Or, alternatively, the latch can be released and the plate can be swung from right to left to assume the out-of-the-way position illustrated in FIG. and to permit the opening 98 to accommodate a high heel or any heel which would be uncomfortable if firmly thrust against the latched heel plate 64.

It is believed that a careful consideration of the specification in conjunction with the views of the drawing will enable the reader to comprehensively understand the broad and specific aspects of the invention, the construction, combination and arrangement of the component parts and the features and advantages attending the same. Likewise it is believed that when one considers the coaction of the two plates 62 and 64 in coplanar relationship as shown in full lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, then taken under consideration the opening means 98 and the latchequipped plate 64 serving as a lid or cover therefor, the significant features and advantages will be apparent. Consequently, a more extended description of the details is deemed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a physicians examination table provided at the usual foot end with a fixedly mounted adapter bracket, an upright mounted in said bracket and which, when in use, assumes a position perpendicular to a horizontal component of said table, a stirrup cradling yoke having a bight portion provided with a depending stud, coupling and mounting means for said yoke carried by an upper end of said upright, said stud being operatively joined to said coupling means, and a foot steadying stirrup pivotally cradled between the arms of said yoke, said stirrup embodying means capable of accommodatingly seating and supporting a foot of the patient occupying said table.

2. The structure according to claim 1, and wherein the means embodied in said stirrup is adapted to appro priately support a foot with or without a shoe and regardless or whether the shoe is equipped with high heels or low heels.

3. The structure according to claim 1, and wherein the means embodied in said stirrup is characterized by a receptacle-like footrest having coplanar end thrust sole and heel plates marginally encompassed by a foot supporting, positioning and confining rim.

4. The structure according to claim 1, and wherein the means embodied in said stirrup is characterized by a receptacle-like footrest having coplanar end thrust sole and heel plates marginally encompassed by a foot supporting, positioning and confining rim, said rim being U-shaped in edge elevation, the bight portion of the U providing a heelrest and the upstanding walls providing guards which minimize the likelihood of accidental displacement of the confined foot.

5. The structure according to claim 1, and wherein the means embodied in said stirrup is characterized by a receptacle-like footrest having coplanar end thrust sole and heel plates marginally encompassed by a foot supporting, positioning and confining rim, said rim being U- shaped in edge elevation, the bight portion of the U providing a heelrest and the upstanding walls providing guards which minimize the likelihood of accidental displacement of the confined foot, said sole plate being rigid and fixed to said rim and said heel plate being pivotally mounted on the sole plate and, considered in conjunction with said sole plate and a coacting portion of said rim, defining and providing an opening and an openable and closable lid-like cover for said opening.

6. The structure according to claim 5, and in combination, a manually controllable latch mounted on and carried by said sole plate, and a keeper for said latch mounted on said rim.

7. For use on the foot end of a patient examination table, and end thrust, foot holding and steadying device comprising: a yoke having means thereon for swivelly and detachably mounting the yoke on the foot end of said table, a foot supporting receptacle-like stirrup having coplanar sole and heel plates marginally provided with a forwardly laterally projecting flange U-shaped in edge elevation and oriented with said plates and providing a foot localizing rim, the central bight portion of the rim providing side guards which minimize the likelihood of the supported foot from becoming unintentionally displaced once it is seated in said stirrup, median portions of said guard walls being hingedly suspended and tiltably cradled between the arms of said yoke, said sole plate spanning and being fixed between the walls of an upper half-portion of said yoke, said heel plate spanning the lower half-portion of said yoke and being hingedly suspended from the lower edge portion of said sole plate.

8. The structure according to claim 7, and wherein said heel plate taken in conjunction with the sole plate and component parts of said rim functions to define an opening, and a selectively openable and closable lid-like cover for said opening.

9. The structure according to claim 8, and in combination, a manually controllable latch mounted on and carried by said sole plate, and a keeper for said latch mounted on said rim.

10. In combination, a table bracket, a support rod having a lower end detachably and adjustably mounted in said bracket, a yoke having a bight portion provided with 21 depending centrally positioned stud, the lower end of said stud being provided with a grooved head, a stirrup rockably mounted in said yoke, and coupling means providing a union between the lower headed end and upper end of said rod.

11. The structure defined in claim 10 and wherein said coupling means is provided with a spring loaded latch and detent engageable with the grooved headed end and further provided with a spring-biased projectable and retractible member with which said rod is connected, said member having a spring-loaded latch engageable with a keeper provided therefor in said coupling means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1927 Gellhorn 269328 1/ 1943 Froelich 269--32.8 

1. IN COMBINATION, A PHYSICIAN''S EXAMINATION TABLE PROVIDED AT THE USUAL FOOT END WITH A FIXEDLY MOUNTED ADAPTER BRACKET, AN UPRIGHT MOUNTED IN SAID BRACKET AND WHICH, WHEN IN THE USE, ASSUMES A POSITION PERPENDICULAR TO A HORIZONTAL COMPONENT OF SAID TABLE, A STIRRUP CRADLING YOKE HAVING A BIGHT PORTION PROVIDED WITH A DEPENDING STUD, COUPLING AND MOUNTING MEANS FOR SAID YOKE CARRIED BY AN UPPER END OF SAID UPRIGHT, SAID STUD BEING OPERATIVELY JOINTED TO SAID COUPLING MEANS, AND A FOOT STEADYING STIRRUP PIVOTALLY CRADLED BETWEEN THE ARMS OF SAID YOKE, SAID STIRRUP EMBODYING MEANS CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATINGLY SEATING AND SUPPORTING A FOOT OF THE PATIENT OCCUPYING SAID TABLE. 